White spruce for birds in Newfoundland and Labrador
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills. Native to Newfoundland and Labrador, where it feeds or shelters 68 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Picea glauca
- Native status
- Native in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–6b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Newfoundland and Labrador birds supported
- 68
- Nesting birds among them
- 68
Growing conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.
Newfoundland and Labrador birds that use White spruce
Year-round residents (22)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, European Starling, Canada Jay, Common Raven, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (46)
American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Osprey, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Common Redpoll, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Newfoundland and Labrador
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use White spruce:
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — June
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — June
- Brown Creeper — June
Native plants to pair with White spruce in Newfoundland and Labrador
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is White spruce native to Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. White spruce (Picea glauca) is recorded as native in Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundland and Labrador spans Canada 0a–6b.
What birds does White spruce attract in Newfoundland and Labrador?
In Newfoundland and Labrador, White spruce supports 68 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker.
Does White spruce help nesting birds in Newfoundland and Labrador?
68 of those birds nest in Newfoundland and Labrador: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), American Robin (May–July).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.